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October 25, 2007 : Dasylirion acrotrichum
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Keywords: Ruscaceae | Dasylirion acrotrichum (Schiede) Zucc. | near San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
One last series of photographs from David Tarrant for the time being (thanks yet again, David). David writes: “This is Dasylirion acrotrichum, locally known as cucharilla. The flower spike photographs were taken much earlier this year. The base of the leaves has an attractive spoon shape (cucharilla means “little spoon” in Spanish). The leaf bases are collected to decorate structures called suchiles (spelling? I couldn't find other references – Daniel) and other religious offerings as seen on this one in El Charco del Ingenio from earlier this year.”
Two English common names for this species are green desert spoon and frayed sotol. Frayed is in reference to the leaf-tips, as the leaves terminate with several strands of dry fibrous tissue; photographs of the foliage can be seen on the Dasylirion page of Andrea and Friedrich Lohmüller's site.
Dasylirion acrotrichum is endemic to the deserts of Mexico. If you plan to do more online research on this species, note that the name Dasylirion acrotriche is also often used.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at October 25, 2007 2:00 AM
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Posted by: Michael F at October 25, 2007 2:58 AM
Also, the blue-green foliage embedded in the 'suchiles' is Cupressus lusitanica (Mexican Cypress), and the pads a species of Opuntia (the fruit of which is what is attracting the thrashers).
Posted by: Michael F at October 25, 2007 3:02 AM
Thanks, Daniel and Michael.
Posted by: Sue at October 25, 2007 3:52 AM
Thanks again for all of the beautiful pictures and your faithfulness in maintaining this website.
Posted by: Hank at October 25, 2007 8:33 AM
http://www.mexicanfolkart.com/tales_from_the_road.php?tale=14
i tried spelling it "zuchiles" and found this
mexican folk art site. cool stuff...especially near
dia de lost muertos!
Posted by: eleanor at October 25, 2007 8:44 AM
delightful postig and the comments are helpful
i have a zoom button on this machine and
i came up to 200 and i can see flying insects?
with little feet and wings in picture two
i hope the folk tale is interesting how is
picture three made number four is a real
keeper what is the red in the right upper
corner looks like a red pepper but i
doubt if i am correct thank you david and daniel
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at October 25, 2007 9:38 AM
Elizabeth, if you look at a close up of the flower, you will see bees all over the flower. The flying insects you see in the other photo are bees. (Very happy bees, probably)
Posted by: Katherine at October 25, 2007 10:45 AM
'Maravilhoso' post and photos! Tnanks for the links.
Posted by: lucia at October 25, 2007 1:48 PM
Very impresive. All the Photographs are really great. I especially like the hummingbird.
I have the name David Tarrant however can not connect where and how I know his name. Also not from UBC. Perhaps, television, books etc.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 25, 2007 3:27 PM
Hello Margaret-Rae (and thank you for all the comments, by the way!),
Yes, you might know David from his books, but it is more likely you somehow picked up a Canadian television feed and saw the Canadian Gardener TV show. David was involved as a host or cohost for sixteen(?) years. I missed out on a chance to be on it - it was canceled the year I started at the garden.
Posted by: Daniel Mosquin 
at October 25, 2007 3:31 PM
Thank you Daniel. I remember now about David. We have a PBS show called the "Victory Garden" out of Boston and a show host from the Victory West in Laguna Beach Ca went up to BC to interviw him. This was over 8 years ago. I found the interview on one of my old VCR tapes. Thank you for jogging my mind. I am so enjoying the Photgraph of the day and I am learning for each picture and what is talked about.
Thank you for all you do to make this possiable,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 29, 2007 4:22 AM
"Zuchiles" = Xochitl = xuchiles = flower´s. arc-shaped structure with flowers... that adorns the entrance of churches or oratories in festivities
I'm not speak inglishhhh jajajajaja
Posted by: Itzcuauhtli at June 12, 2008 11:08 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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In case anyone is wondering, the bird is Toxostoma curvirostre (Curve-billed Thrasher).